The all-new #1 compact SUV from premium electric automotive and technology brand smart has been honoured in the prestigious What Car? Safety Award, reinforcing its exceptional safety credentials and comprehensive customer offering.
The #1 placed second out of all models considered, receiving plaudits at the forefront of a highly competitive field. Meticulously assessed by an esteemed panel of judges from highly respected publication What Car?, leading automotive research centre Thatcham Research, and the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), the #1 was praised for its stand-out results in the rigorous Euro NCAP tests – offering top-class protection in a compact, high quality package, and scoring higher than many larger models in the running for the award.
Subjected to the most comprehensive testing regime in Euro NCAP’s 27-year history, the #1 achieved the top five-star rating and high scores in each of the five major categories. This includes one of 2022’s strongest results in Adult Occupant protection with an exceptional 96% rating, as well as an 89% score for Child Occupant protection – higher than the What Car? Safety Award winner.
Recognising automotive excellence since 1978, the What Car? Awards are some of the UK motoring industry’s most coveted accolades, leveraging What Car?’s reputation for offering highly trusted, independent and expert insight in its rigorous car assessments.
Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: “The smart #1 demonstrates that it’s possible to make an affordable small electric car that is also safer than many larger models. This is a significant achievement; small cars have to work harder than larger ones to get top safety scores, because they’re lighter and there’s less metal to absorb an impact. And the #1 also does well in Euro NCAP’s Safety Assist tests, with an 88% score, meaning it reduces the chances of you being involved in a collision in the first place.”
David Browne, CEO smart UK, said: “Ever since the brand’s inception, smart has placed safety innovation at the forefront of its product development. With the #1, we have taken that heritage to new heights, combining advanced engineering with state-of-the-art technologies to bring safety to the core of the driving experience. Following the achievement of a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, this strong result in the What Car? Safety Award is yet another endorsement of the smart #1’s quality, and we look forward to customers experiencing the model for themselves.”
The smart #1 is designed from the ground up as the ideal urban mobility companion, comprehensively equipped to seamlessly adapt to users’ needs. This philosophy extends to the plethora of safety features available for the model, including the smart Pilot Assist Package – which features automatic Front Collision Mitigation and Lane Keeping Assist technology for intelligent driving support. Drivers are further supported with features including Automatic Emergency Braking with Vehicle, Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection; Door Open Warning System; and Emergency Manoeuvre Assist.
This high standard of safety is also imbued in the #1’s architecture, with 74% utilisation of high-strength steel and 19% press-hardened steel creating a rigid platform for exceptional impact protection and passenger safety.
